Another fantastic work by Dostoevsky that takes people from seemingly ordinary circumstances and weaves around them the most intricate webs of moral and ethical dilemma. In The Idiot, the protagonist (Prince Lyov Nikolayevitch Mishkin) is portrayed as a truly good person. The theme of the novel is to examine the question of whether or not a deeply kind individual can actually survive in a world of vice. Myshkin is at all times open hearted about his feelings and honest with all about his convictions and intentions. Can this type of individual safely comingle with a duplicitous society? Myshkin is confused by the notion that people should ever have need to be anything less than completely honest. I don't know that the author intended for Myshkin to be hailed as Christlike figure or not, but the theme is apparent regardless. Society has a habit of crucifying, in one way or another, all who dare to break from the social contract. A social contract that is all too often constructed on a foundation of deceit or immorality. It's hard for us today to relate to the tedium of a Russian high society that is a century and a half extinct, but how often have we wondered if we could ever fit in with our peer group if we didn't gossip, use drugs, date promiscuously, or any number of other socially accepted practices that most of us privately abhor. The conclusion of the novel only encourages the reader to further question the reception of society that awaits the open and trusting. An outstanding novel for those that take the time to finish it.